Inside: The Gatekeepers Lodge
This beautiful, heritage listed lodge in the foothills of Hobart’s Mount Wellington is a place to sit back, relax, and be inspired.
Photography by @reneethurston_
Located on the cusp of north Hobart in the picturesque Lenah Valley, The Gatekeepers Lodge was built in 1860. Known back then as the ‘Gatehouse’, it was constructed as a humble outbuilding to the much larger Newlands House – a manor built in around 1830 for a local premier. Today, it’s a quaint Airbnb run by Dan and Arianne.
A lover of history and renovating, Dan had dreamed of owning a property like this, and jumped at the opportunity to bring it back to life and share it with guests.
“The lodge really is a special building, and the idea that I would just live there and not share it just seemed such a shame. We knew once we started rebuilding the story behind the lodge that it was a perfect place for people to put their feet up and enjoy all that Tassie has to offer,” he says.
We asked Dan more about this gorgeous accommodation.
Photography by @reneethurston_
What inspired the interior design?
We were mostly inspired by the building’s intricate history, however we took so much inspiration from Tasmanian architecture and the surrounding landscape. Tasmanian buildings are so simple and unpretentious that we didn’t want to lose that. It was so important that the interior felt humble and cosy – think dirty old work boots and a warm pot of beef stew. When it comes down to it, all of those things equate to practicality; so there’s little flamboyance here, everything had to be there for a reason.
What has been the process of bringing the space to life?
Tough, really tough. Every floorboard that gets lifted, every stone turned… the jobs are always much bigger than we anticipate. These big old buildings are built with varying degrees of quality, and sometimes disturbing the dust can do more damage than good. So it’s a gentle coaxing back to life that we find the best way forward. The end result is oh so rewarding, though.
Photography by @reneethurston_
What art is found in the space?
It’s a real mixed bag, to be honest – I’m no connoisseur by any stretch! I simply started searching for paintings that I imagined might have graced the walls of such a humble building. Many are unknown marketplace finds or from local estate sales. One painted across the river Derwent in the 50s I bought from the grandson of the artist. Another we call ‘Lady Loan’ is from a recent trip to France – a beautiful 18th century oil painting that encompasses exactly the sort of person I imagine living in the lodge back then. I tried my best to find oil paintings depicting Tasmania or by Tasmanian artists. Our latest is a heart-warmer: a guest earlier this year painted the lodge, unbeknownst to us, and later sent it to us fully framed as a gift!
“I simply started searching for paintings that I imagined might have graced the walls of such a humble building.”
Photography by @reneethurston_
What is your favourite spot at The Gatekeepers Lodge?
Definitely the library nook. It gets the most gorgeous sunshine through the old windows, with a cushy bench seat to put your feet up.
Where should creatives visit during their stay?
The lodge sits on the cusp of north Hobart in Lenah Valley (previously Kangaroo Valley for the trivia lovers). It’s quaint and quiet, and we think it gets Hobart’s best morning sun, not shadowed by the mountain. We’re a short stroll to the north Hobart strip, full of so many amazing foodie spots, and only 15 minutes to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).
lutruwita, Tasmania
